easy summer decor: all bottled up!

Memorial Day Weekend is here (in the States, anyway)

and that means it's time for the big 'summer kickoff'...

the project i'm sharing today is a re-do and throw-back

to some of my patriotic red, white and blue summer decor from the past

(i've linked that below this post)

but the new version fits my current 'green era' obsession.

 it's another 'throw it together in a minute' decor trick

that can be replicated in SO many ways on a table, mantel, bookshelf, and more. 

'summerizing' your living spaces is an easy way to embrace the season...
quick additions of simple elements will change the feel of your home!

continue reading to see a few of the ways i've used glass bottles...

fourth of july decor roundup!

 i'm being lazy right now and NOT creating any new summer decor content
for the Fourth of July.

but that doesn't mean i don't have loads of previous projects

to inspire your celebrations!

click HERE to see ALL of my past fourth of july blog posts & projects
(the first four are yellow - but they'd be perfect in red, white and blue!)

see more inspo on my July Pinterest board

continue viewing post...

diy fourth of july

Fourth of July weekend is coming up in just DAYS,
and no matter where or how you are celebrating
during this crazy quarantine you probably need some easy 'use what you have' ideas!

so i've pulled together all of the previous red, white & blue projects, ideas, & decor
that i've shared here at homewardFOUND since 2012

to inspire your patriotic celebrations!

continue reading to see them all...

NEW! Sweet Sweater Pops!

so a funny thing happened while i was creating my last blog post...

i was typing in additional ideas for accessories that one might use

on one's own versions of my Sweet Sweater Sandbabies.

things like ball caps popped into my mind. and THAT led me down a rabbit hole...

it went something like this:

"yeah! ball caps! ball caps?! baseball! hot dogs! beer! popcorn! 

POPCORN??!! waaaaaiiiiiiiit a minute... i have...."

at which point i ran out of my studio to the garage, to the party supply bins,

where i found the paper and plastic popcorn containers i knew were in there.

i returned to my studio and dragged out the box with sweater remnants,

and there was a bag filled with wonky fuzzy yarn that is the color of UNbuttered popcorn.

my crazy brain puts two and two together and the result is those guys up above:
Sweet Sweater Pops!

Red, White, and Blue PATRIOTIC Pops.

and then the ideas REALLY started poppin'... continue reading to see!

a found & foraged flag

You know, I enjoy sometimes decorating with red white and blue
just as much as the next patriotic American... but... 

what if I don't want to use red and blue in my home, 

and want to stick with white + warm neutrals?

Well... I found a way to do exactly that,
and still have a focus on the flag for the Fourth of July!

I found some items in my garage, left from my closed homewardFOUND shop.

When I looked at the weathered white fence pickets,
and the blue-ish zinc metal scraps, I saw a flag.

My whole 'schtick' here on the blog is re-using, re-cycling, re-imagining
stuff that I already have to create new stuff... 
It's born out of my 45-year long career in retail visual merchandising/display,
where nothing is created to last a long time 
and change is the only constant!

  I quickly got busy assembling things on the workbench...
and that metal in the top photo isn't what you think it is!

...continue reading to see how I made my own faux zinc!

summer kickoff: red, white & blue

 over the years i've shared so many 'fast, cheap & easy'TM tips for decorating...

and my faves are always the party themes!

the 'official' start of summer is on the horizon! 

don't you agree that summer parties should be EASY to pull together? 

uncomplicated? fun? whimsical? and inexpensive? i thought you would! 

so let's use stuff we already have - nothing precious or expensive, just simple.

continue reading for one of my easiest centerpieces EVER - plus a few helpful tips...

Nauti, Nauti....

In a recent post, I shared the flag that I found this week at the Disney cast member outlet store.
I found something else there that day:
Nautical signal flags, all in red, white, and blue!

Measuring @ 12 by 16 inches and made of nylon,
these babies are nearly brand new (I have no idea where they were used at the resort)

and they only set me back a dollar each!

They present creative opportunities for summertime decorating.
My first idea was to turn them into a decorative banner for the backyard:

I simply threaded the grommets on each flag onto a length of seam binding ribbon,

tied & swagged it from the strands of patio lights already installed overhead,

then used miniature white clothespins to keep the flags from sliding on the line.
[ note that the flag fabric is no where near the light bulbs. ]
Fluttering in the breeze, they bring bright patriotic color to the space.

So then I thought... what ELSE can I do with these out here?
What about a tablescape?

These flags lend themselves perfectly for use as placemats (easily washable nylon)

and they also bring color to the centerpiece-

simply a blue metal water cup filled with red geraniums from the yard.

They create a Nautical theme without too much fuss, 

and make simple details shine:

Easy little touches like folding a napkin into a sailboat shape make all the difference -

and yet take just seconds.
The white plastic food basket is available at Dollar Tree stores!

Picnic or poolside place setting tip:
Place plastic / paper cup over a (full) soda can or bottle to keep the cup from blowing away.

I know most DIY / Decor Bloggers will shudder that I actually put this super-simple table in a post,
but Red Solo Cups have their place (and it's not always at a kegger). 
Sometimes you just want easy. 

Forget the foofing and fussing and planning, and just sit back and enjoy - 

then dump the disposable plastic dishes in the trash.
I'm not advocating doing this ALL the time, mind you, 

but some days just call for EASY.
It's SUMMER, for goodness sakes!
[ More on THAT subject in Monday's post......]
.

... and you know what the perfect front door 'welcome' would be for this look, right?

uh huh.
seen sixty gazillion times on Pinterest, this utterly brilliant design and photo is by
Tell It to Your Neighbor

(so, see, you don't have to throw out the cups after all. CRAFT with 'em!).

shared online:

Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed


Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

Creative Country Mom | Home Sweet Garden Party
.

Raise the Stakes: Poker Chip Decor!

A few weeks ago I shared a buncha' uses for a metal plant stand
that I found at a local flea market.

Another treasure was unearthed that day, and I've been waiting to use it...

I snagged a HUGE bag of vintage plastic poker chips for FIVE BUCKS.
These are thick, heavy almost 'bakelite'/resin chips,

and as soon as I saw them I knew what I'd do with them:

Fill up clear glass apothecary jars!

One jar is totally filled with the chips (background).

The front jar has a glass vase hidden in the center, surrounded by the poker chips.

That glass is holding a candle, but could also hold fresh flowers  - 
red, white, and blue ones, of course :) 

This is a simple arrangement with patriotic summer style

for your entry, guest bath, or kitchen counter.

Speaking of the kitchen: 

vintage poker chips make GREAT fridge magnets, too!

Just glue a small round magnet to the back of the chip.
[ I did the same with a souvenir wooden coin, just because it fit the patriotic theme! ]

PS: the projects listed above in the photo are all past posts - 
find links in my sidebar under 'Top Projects'!

As long as you can keep the boys in the house from grabbing the chips for poker games, 
you're good all summer long! ;)

@ Liberty: Summer Ashore Decor!

Imagine, if you will, Lady Liberty... 
stepping down from her pedestal on Ellis Island to enjoy a summer yachting excursion.

That, in a nutshell, is the premise behind the summer theme
in my friend Liz's booth in an antique mall in San Diego!

Liz hired me to assist her in gaining some serious WOW factor in her booth,
which is in the WINDOW of the gorgeous shop.
She brought the goods, and I helped her with a design plan and styling services.

... and I think I can safely say that her booth is definitely a WOW!

These are simple yet stunning ideas
for combining Nautical, French, and Patriotic decor...

a vintage mannequin is dressed in a white petticoat and draped with a vintage flag.
Liz created her Lady Liberty crown out of tin!

a beautiful alabaster statue tips her crown to the colors

in a purely last-minute serendipitous combination,
a statuary head nestles in a silver yachting trophy, topped by a jaunty French beret 

Old Glory adds color to the sparkle of mirror and crystal in the corner

 a vintage French bed was rebuilt as a bench, then filled with nautical pillows and Old Glory
a life preserver forms a perfect halo above the mannequin
and a sailing ship is ready for the water

miniature Lady Liberties join in the fun!

.
Liz's business is 'My Little French Venue'
The store is Vignettes, in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California

shared online:
 
Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed

Red, White and Blue - Water?!

 my 'famous' strawberry & blueberry flavored water

was featured in a past post about front porch decor here on the blog.
it really is pretty, isn't it?!
I made and served this beverage at the vintage shows that I hosted on my farm in Washington,
and it was included in one of the articles i wrote for a magazine.

It's a simple 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' idea (my trademark!) for summer entertaining:

Just put layers of frozen blueberries, ice cubes, and fresh strawberries

in an old glass jar, then fill the jar with water.

They flavor the water ever so subtly - SO refreshing on a hot day - 
and it looks absolutely perfect for a patriotic party!

I can't believe how many times that image has been shared and pinned since then! 
It's my most popular pin EVER, so I want to thank you for the love!

i've always thought that photo was too dark, 
but i can't remove it because of all of the pins & shares - 
so i've added a better, edited image up above in this post and re-pinned it!

You can see another version of my flavored water here

and here

shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

the How To Home | Project Inspire{d} #274

creatively beth | team creative crafts linky party #147 (2023)

thank you for featuring my project, Miss Beth!

memorial day, labor day, fourth of july, patriotic party decor, red white and blue decor,
red white and blue berry water, entertaining, patriotic party drinks, diy, homeward found decor

Transitional Palette: Driftwood

This time of the year, the waning summer leading into fall, brings a change -

The patriotic hues of midsummer aren't quite right now -
yet it's just not time for the deep oranges and golds of fall.

It's a perfect time to take a fresh look at your home, and let it reflect the changing seasons in a subtle way.

The photo above is one I took on a beach in Washington state several years back,

and it's a perfect example of how nature brings together a perfect color palette:

A gathering of driftwood on an island beach explores the range of tan, gray, and cream tones. 

Behind them, if you look carefully, you'll see deep green trees and tawny gold field grasses
that add contrast and texture.

From warm to cool, light to dark, that's a balanced palette.
Warm: amber, tan, cream   +   Cool: gray, green
Light: cream, tan, amber, light gray   + Dark: green, dark gray

Photography of items within the palette like this old wood boat [or the driftwood up above]

extends the color scheme when used as framed art.

Pale sage green walls and light tan carpeting set the stage 

for rooms filled with white, creamy white, and tan accents & furniture. 

Golden / Amber wood and fabric tones are a natural fit.

[note: I actually disliked that green wall color. I wanted tan walls.
But the house - which we leased - was for sale, and I wasn't about to make it look better than it already did so that someone else would buy it before WE could. 
It didn't matter. It sold anyway. They wanted my furniture with the deal :/ 
Apparently I still made it look too good!]

Silver metallics reflect the gray end of the 'driftwood' palette spectrum. 

Sparkling clear glass imitates water, 

and the addition of canvas or sheet music in ivory warms up the combination.
[the canvas-covered dresser from my last post would look perfect in this setting]

The following images are great examples of a transitional neutral palette,
featuring displays that I created for the booths that my former business had at Vintage shows...

RETREAT at BarnHouse Marketplace . Battle Ground, WA . July, 2011

[and if you came here from the HOMEWARDfound facebook page,
the table that I showed a sneak peek of is in that shot...
oh, look, it's ALSO in the photo below!]

RETREAT at Retreat Vintage Market . Camano Island, WA . June, 2011

RETREAT 'Taj Ma Tent' at BarnHouse Marketplace . Battle Ground, WA . July, 2009

The aesthetic of that business was all neutral tones, texture, and seasonal focus

built on re-imagining and re-using salvaged materials in furniture & decor.

Now, I realize that my displays are MUCH more theatrical than the average home decor is...

but they offer some great examples of using a neutral palette and seasonal texture.
You can see the 'driftwood' palette in play in all of them.

And with the addition of more warm colors - golds, browns, oranges - in September,

this look transitions perfectly into fall!